Victim Survivors’ Advisory Council

For the first time in Victoria, victim survivors have a formal influencing role in how the family violence reforms will be developed and implemented through the Victim Survivors’ Advisory Council.

Chaired by the 2015 Australian of the Year and Founder and CEO of the Luke Batty Foundation Rosie Batty, the Victim Survivors’ Advisory Council brings the strength, resilience and lived experiences of victims into our reforms. It advises the Victorian Government on the various experiences of family violence and the contemporary Victorian service system from the victim’s perspective.

Victim Survivors' Advisory Council express their sadness on the passing of Minister Richardson

We are deeply saddened by the passing of the Hon, Fiona Richardson MP and would like to extend our sincere condolences to her children, husband, family, friends and colleagues.

Minister Richardson was greatly admired and respected by the council who shared a special rapport with her.

We have been privileged to have worked with her on driving prevention and building a safer and stronger future family violence response.

We will always be grateful for her inspiring energy, incredible support and for making sure victim survivors had a place at the decision making table and an influential voice.

Her advocacy, leadership, friendship and humanity will be especially missed.

It is our collective responsibility to continue her trailblazing work and make the elimination of family violence in the State of Victoria a reality.

Message from the Victim Survivors' Advisory Council

The Victim Survivors’ Advisory Council includes representatives from a variety of age groups, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds who share the traumatic lived experience of family violence.

As victims of family violence we have been betrayed of our personal power, our voices and our safety. The Royal Commission into Family Violence recognises that there is great power in the lived experience of victims and survivors and that sharing our stories is important.

Our voices are now at the heart of the reform agenda. Silencing victims protects the perpetrator, condones their behaviour and robs victims and survivors of their dignity. This is the time to hear our voices and break the silence.

The Victorian Government has recognised that by working together we can create systems that support people who are affected by family violence.

We know what it’s like to be ignored. We know what it’s like to experience system shortcomings. We know what it’s like to be victim blamed.

Yet the painful reality of the family violence which we have endured is that it can happen to anyone, regardless of their cultural, ethnic and socio-economic background. We know this. We feel this.

It is everybody’s business to break the silence and meet victim survivors with compassion and empathy.

At the Victim Survivors’ Advisory Council, we are leading the way. Our most vulnerable days are behind us and we are driving cultural change. Some voices have been permanently silenced. To those who have died through family violence, our community apologises for failing you. We do this work in your honour.

We represent all ages, genders and demographics, from children and adolescents, the Aboriginal community, to culturally and ethnically diverse communities, people with a disability, LGBTI communities, and elders.

Our drive, passion and voices are jointly dedicated to contributing as a powerful group to ending family violence.

Historically, victims of family violence have been failed by systemic shortcomings and cultural attitudes that have enabled our plight and caused us to suffer silently.

That stops now. Our voices represent all of us—those impacted by family violence, and those for whom the system must improve to keep us safe.

We are the Victim Survivors’ Advisory Council and we are here to make a difference. The Victim Survivors’ Advisory Council brings the strength, resilience and lived experiences of victim survivors to our reforms.

Role of the Victim Surviors Advisory Council

The Victim Survivors’ Advisory Council will:

Contribute meaningfully to family violence reform by involving its members – service users and victim survivors – in the family violence reform program

Provide an ongoing voice for victims of family violence in the design of services

Place service users at the centre of family violence reform and service design

Advise how family violence reform initiatives will impact on people who use services

Consider and provide advice on specific issues requested by the Family Violence Committee of Cabinet/or the Family Violence Steering Committee

Ensure that advice to the Government reflects the diversity of the family violence experience

Ensure the Government’s response to the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Family Violence meets the expectations of victim survivors and the community.